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Committee hears 2026 budget squeeze for human services as nonprofits warn demand outstrips funding
Summary
At a Columbus City Council Health, Human Services and Equity Committee hearing, city and county officials outlined proposed 2026 cuts — including a 10% reduction to Elevate grants and a steep drop in funding for federally qualified health centers — while nonprofit leaders urged new local revenue and flexible funding to meet rising demand.
Chair Green opened the Health, Human Services and Equity Committee hearing to review the proposed 2026 operating budget, saying the committee must balance a tight municipal budget with mounting community needs. "We're at a moment where our neighbors are knocking on our door," Chair Green said, framing recent federal and state funding uncertainty as pressure on local services.
Deputy Director Hannah Jones of the Department of Development described changes to the Elevate grant program. The department consolidated its grant cycle into a single 2026 Request for Proposals for the full $10,000,000 and received applications from roughly 186–187 organizations requesting about $24,600,000. "We anticipate having the capacity to award approximately $9,000,000," Jones said, noting staff will re-run peer-review rankings and consider…
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